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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe simplest documented cigar box guitar is a three-string, fretless instrument: fit a straight hardwood neck through a flat-lid cigar box, add tuners, use bolts for the nut and bridge, and install strings. A 25-inch (635 mm) nut-to-bridge distance defines the scale in this particular layout. Because it has no frets, it is especially well suited to slide playing and avoids the most demanding fret-layout work.
What you are building
This beginner plan uses a flat-lid cigar box and a straight 1 × 2 inch (19 × 38 mm) hardwood neck, such as maple or oak. The neck passes through the box, while the lid remains free enough to vibrate as the soundboard. It is an acoustic, three-string, fretless design; it is not a conventional six-string guitar reduced in size.
The plan’s scale is 25 inches (635 mm), measured from the nut to the bridge. Treat that as the dimension for this layout, not a universal cigar-box-guitar measurement.
Materials and tools
Materials
- Flat-lid cigar box
- Straight four-foot length of 1 × 2 inch (19 × 38 mm) hardwood
- Three strings and three tuners
- Two 1½-inch hex bolts and a nut that fits one bolt
- Two ¾-inch #10 countersunk wood screws
- Three ½-inch #6 round-head screws
- Sandpaper, painter’s tape and boiled linseed oil
Follow the finish manufacturer’s directions and safety warnings when using boiled linseed oil.
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#1 Best Overall
- Detailed, easy-to follow assembly instructions
- Will make a 3-string Acoustic-Electric Cigar Box Guitar
- Includes Basic Piezo Pickup for plugging into an amp
- Fully Fretted Neck with Zero Fret
- Only basic hand tools required
Basic tools
- Square and tape measure or yard/meter stick
- Small handsaw, file or rasp and razor knife
- Clamps, drill and suitable bits
- Driver bits, flat-head screwdriver and an awl or other pointed tool
- Mallet or hammer
You do not need a specialist lutherie shop for this version. Accurate measuring, controlled sawing, drilling and careful fitting matter more than elaborate equipment.
Step-by-step construction
1. Inspect and lay out the neck
Choose the straightest neck stock available. Mark the neck and headstock layout with a square, keeping the centerline clear so the strings can run straight from nut to bridge. Cut the stock with a handsaw and smooth the edges with a file or rasp. Sand now, and apply finish if you want the neck protected before assembly.
2. Mark the box and make the neck opening
Use the neck as a guide to mark where it enters and exits the cigar box. Cut the opening carefully with a razor knife or saw, then test-fit the neck. Work slowly: an opening that is slightly tight can be enlarged, while an oversized opening is harder to correct.
3. Check the lid before fastening anything
Close the lid with the neck in place. Confirm that the lid closes without being forced against the neck and that it has clearance to vibrate. This check is essential to the acoustic response and should happen before you install the hardware.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #2
- Has all the hardware you need except the neck (easily found at hardware stores)
- Includes guitar tuners, strings, and other hard-to-find hardware
- Full 26-page assembly how-to guide included, packed with detailed photos
- Requires only basic hand or power tools and woodworking skills to build
- A perfect and easy way to build a slide-style (unfretted) cigar box guitar!
4. Fasten the box and neck
Clamp the assembly so the neck stays centered and square. Drill pilot holes where needed, then use the specified wood screws to secure the lid and neck. Avoid overtightening; crushed wood or a distorted lid can prevent the soundboard from moving freely.
5. Install the tuners
Lay out the tuner positions on the headstock, mark them with an awl, drill the required holes and fit the tuners. Keep their posts aligned so each string leaves the nut in a straight, low-friction path.
6. Make and fit the nut
Use one of the hex bolts with the matching nut as the bolt-style nut. Position it across the neck at the end of the playing area and secure it so the strings can rest on its highest point. Check that no sharp edge can contact a string or a player’s hand.
7. Mark string spacing
For the three-string arrangement described in the plan, place one string on the neck centerline. Place the two outside strings approximately 5/16 inch (8 mm) from the neck edges at the nut. Small screw retainers can hold the strings in place behind the nut.
Rank #3
- Complete cigar box guitar kit, designed to be the EASIEST kit to build, bar none!
- Includes all parts, hardware, neck and illustrated instruction booklet.
- Only a screwdriver required to assemble. Build it in an hour or so at your kitchen table!
- Perfect project for first-time cigar box guitar builders, or for parents to do with a child!
- The easiest, most affordable way to build your own cigar box guitar.
8. Install and locate the bridge
Use the second 1½-inch bolt as the bridge. With the strings loosely installed, slide the bridge beneath them until its contact point is exactly 25 inches (635 mm) from the nut. Keep it square to the centerline and recheck that the closed lid still has room to vibrate.
9. Add sound holes
Drill sound holes in the lid after the neck, nut and bridge positions are established. Mark their locations with painter’s tape, support the lid, and drill cleanly to reduce splintering. The holes are an acoustic design choice; they do not replace the clearance check around the bridge and neck.
10. String and inspect
Install the three strings on the tuners, nut and bridge, bringing them to only moderate tension at first. Sight down the neck, confirm that the strings track evenly, and check every screw, bolt and cut edge before bringing the instrument fully up to pitch.
Fretless playing, optional markings and fretted alternatives
Why fretless is the easy route
A fretless neck removes fret-slot cutting, fret installation, leveling and crown work. You press or slide to the note by ear, making the design a natural match for blues and slide techniques. It also lets you avoid committing to a fret layout while you learn how the instrument responds.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #4
- Has all the hardware you need except the neck (easily found at hardware stores)
- Includes cigar box (styles Vary), guitar tuners, strings, and other hard-to-find hardware
- Full 26-page assembly how-to guide included, packed with detailed photos
- Requires only basic hand or power tools and woodworking skills to build
- Build a slide-style (unfretted) cigar box guitar!
What the plan’s fret measurements mean
The beginner instructions include fret-location distances even though the recommended instrument is fretless. Treat those marks as optional visual references, not a requirement to install frets. If you decide to build a genuinely fretted version, calculate every position from the chosen scale length and use a dedicated fret calculator or fretting guide; the positions are not interchangeable between scales.
Action choices
Higher action gives a slide room to pass over the strings without striking frets. Lower action is more comfortable for finger playing but demands more accurate neck, fret and bridge setup. The fretless plan is the straightforward slide build; a low-action fingerstyle instrument is a more involved project.
Scratch build versus a prepared kit
| Decision | Beginner stick-on-box plan | Prepared StewMac kit approach |
|---|---|---|
| Neck and body work | Cut and fit raw 1 × 2 inch neck stock to a cigar box. | Uses kit-specific prepared parts and instructions. |
| Fretboard | Fretless; optional marks can be added for reference. | Traditionally fretted setup with fret leveling instructions. |
| Bridge location | Slide the bolt bridge to 25 inches (635 mm) from the nut. | Use the kit guide’s zero-fret and 12th-fret half-scale references, then add 1/8 inch toward the tailpiece for compensation. |
| Playing setup | Best suited to a simple, higher-action slide arrangement. | Can be adjusted for higher slide action or lower fingerstyle action. |
| Tuning example | Not fixed by this plan. | The guide identifies low-to-high E-B-E as standard for that kit while allowing other tunings. |
| What is established | Materials, tools and construction sequence are specified above. | Follow the kit’s own dimensions and setup instructions; do not substitute them for the 25-inch fretless layout. |
Checks before you play
- The nut-to-bridge distance measures 25 inches (635 mm) for this layout.
- The bridge sits squarely beneath all three strings.
- The center string is on the neck centerline and the outer strings are about 5/16 inch (8 mm) from the neck edges at the nut.
- The lid closes without pressing against the neck or bridge and can vibrate.
- Strings clear sharp screw heads, rough edges and tuner holes.
- The neck and hardware remain stable as tension increases.
Common problems and fixes
The lid will not close
Remove tension, loosen the fastening, and identify where the neck, bridge or a screw is contacting the lid. Enlarge the opening or reposition the hardware only until the lid closes freely; do not clamp the soundboard against the neck.
Strings do not run straight
Check the centerline first, then the tuner alignment, nut spacing and bridge angle. Correct the least permanent part of the path before drilling new holes.
The instrument feels harsh or rattles
Inspect for loose screws, a bolt that is not seated, or a string touching an edge. If you chose frets, uneven fret height can also cause buzzing; fret leveling belongs to the fretted setup, not the basic fretless build.
The notes are difficult to find
That is normal for an unmarked fretless neck. Add the optional reference marks from the plan, use a tuner while practicing, or move to a fretted design only after choosing a scale and calculating its fret positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build this cigar box guitar without installing frets?
Yes. The easy layout is specifically fretless. Optional fret-position marks may be added as visual references, but they are not frets and are not required for slide playing.
Is 25 inches the correct scale for every cigar box guitar?
No. It is the nut-to-bridge scale specified for this particular three-string beginner layout. Other designs and kits use their own measurements.
What tuning should I use?
The beginner plan does not make one tuning universal. The StewMac kit guide identifies low-to-high E-B-E for its kit while noting that other tunings are possible.
The Bottom Line
For the least complicated build, use the three-string fretless plan: a straight 1 × 2 inch neck, flat-lid box, bolt nut and bridge, and a carefully measured 25-inch scale. Keep the lid free to vibrate, and treat frets, low action and kit-specific dimensions as separate, more advanced setup choices.
Quick Recap
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